A reporter asked the president if he risked "losing some credibility or even talking down the economy" by using "dire language" in a town hall meeting in economically battered Elkhart, Ind. Obama parried: "What I'm trying to underscore is what the people in Elkhart already understand: that this is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill recession. ...

"Recent vehicle recalls underscore the need to ensure the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the resources, expertise, and authority it needs to protect consumers from vehicle safety defects," Waxman said in a statement.